Apu Patel Celebrates Seven Years with Three Lifesaving Organs
In 2017, Apu Patel was enjoying life as a father and husband, with a job that took him all over the world. He felt healthy and worked out semi-regularly with a trainer. One day, Apu realized he was constantly fatigued. He would leave the trainer feeling exhausted and noticed he was gaining weight. His legs started to feel heavy, and he knew something was wrong.
Apu Navigates His Health Struggles Throughout His Life
Earlier Years and Type I Diabetes
Even though Apu was a relatively healthy adult up until that point, he remembers having medical struggles throughout his life. While serving overseas in the Peace Corps in his early 20s, he suddenly became ill and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with acute pancreatitis, but the cause remained a mystery. After his health scare, he developed Type 1 diabetes, which he learned to manage through insulin and medication.
Navigating a Weak Heart, Liver and Kidney
Now, as an adult in his 40s, Apu grew concerned about his shortness of breath and low energy levels. He scheduled a doctor’s visit to see what was wrong, and he was referred to see a hepatologist, a doctor who specializes in liver care. Apu discovered his liver was weak and that he needed to follow up with a nephrologist, a doctor who specializes in kidney treatment. Apu received similar information: his kidneys were weak, and he should also follow up with a cardiologist to ensure his heart was functioning properly.
When he got in to see a cardiologist, the doctor was in shock at Apu’s condition. His heart was extremely weak and functioning at only 16%. Apu was immediately diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, and what started as a simple doctor’s visit quickly turned into devastating news. His heart, liver and kidneys were weak, and he needed to seek immediate treatment. Apu didn’t realize how serious his condition was until he called his dad, a dedicated retired physician, who explained the gravity of his health decline.
Trusting His Medical Team and Exploring Care
Since Apu’s condition was severe, he went to the MedStar Health Advanced Heart Failure Program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. His doctors were supportive and compassionate while they explored the best care and treatment options, including transplantation. Apu felt comforted knowing he could trust his medical team and that he had different care options to explore.
He began taking heart medication, along with other medicines to reduce his water weight. Apu attended doctors’ appointments weekly and started to improve. But during a checkup, his liver team noticed a lesion. In addition to organ failure, he had a fast-growing tumor and immediately needed to be treated for liver cancer. Now, Apu had to treat his weak heart and liver cancer-liver cancer that Apu’s doctors warned him, even if they treated, would likely return. It was then that Apu and his doctors knew they had to recommend transplantation. Unfortunately, just transplanting one organ would not be enough to treat him.
Joining the National Transplant Waiting List
Apu’s cardiologist recommended he visit the University of Chicago, where he could get more information on multi-organ transplants. Apu traveled with his wife to the University of Chicago. What was originally supposed to be a quick visit turned into a long hospital stay. Doctors determined that Apu’s heart was too weak, and he needed a heart pump installed to circulate his
blood.
From there, Apu was placed on the national transplant waiting list for three organs: a heart, liver and kidney. He remembers learning about the matching process and that transplant candidates needed to match potential donors based on their blood type, organ size, weight, geographic location and more.
Fighting Through the Wait and Getting the Call
Apu spent 110 days in the hospital waiting for his transplant. His wife was back in Washington, DC, with the kids while he remained in the hospital at the University of Chicago to wait. He was surrounded by family and friends, but he was struggling to put on a brave face for his loved ones, who were all concerned about his well-being. Family and friends visited him in the hospital to keep his spirits up and they brought him food regularly. Even with a strong support system around him, Apu found it difficult to remain positive.
One night, Apu told Carol he was ready to give up. His body was exhausted and too weak to keep fighting. She told him to give it a few more days. He listened and decided to go back to bed and reevaluate how he felt in the morning. Within a few hours, his fate changed forever. Around 5 a.m. the next day, he got the call that he had a match from an organ donor hero and Apu would receive a new heart, liver and kidney, making him the 20th person in the country to receive these three organs at the same time.
Finding A Support Community in His Recovery
Apu was in the intensive care unit (ICU) for more than 30 days post-transplant. During this time, he was surrounded by other multi-organ transplant candidates and recipients. They all shared their personal stories and supported each other in their recoveries. Apu found a community with these individuals whom he may have never met otherwise. All six recipients came from different backgrounds, states and careers but are forever connected by their shared multi-organ transplant journey. Receiving one organ transplant is rare, but having six people together who all received multiple organs at the same time is exceptionally rare. Today, they remain in contact and have a shared text message chain to congratulate and celebrate each other on their transplant anniversaries.
“I feel honored to be a part of history, but more honored to be a part of history with this group of people of whom I have been able to share, live and trust my experience with. That’s the best support network we have ever had, and we can still lean on each other.” – Apu
Apu Advocates for Mental Health Awareness in the Transplant Community
After experiencing firsthand how difficult it was to depend on his family and hospital staff, Apu is passionate about bringing mental health awareness to the transplant community. He remembers struggling to remain positive during his hospital stay, which took a toll on his well-being. He worried about what would happen to himself, his family and all the possibilities that lay ahead.
Apu participated in therapy after his transplant to work through his feelings and transplant experience. He wants others to know it’s okay to reach out for help, and everyone in the transplant community will walk their own journey. Apu has the utmost respect for his organ donor hero and donor family. He chooses to celebrate his second chance by focusing on gratitude and being there for his wife and sons.
“Every day is a blessing thanks to organ donors who make the ultimate act of altruism. To honor their generosity means to live a positive life.” – Apu
Apu Appears on The Hope Cast: Explaining the Critical Need for Organ Donation
Apu is bilingual and advocates for donation by sharing his story in Spanish and English to educate people on the critical need for organ donors. He remembers registering to be a donor at his local motor vehicle office, unaware of the organ donation and transplant process, or the profound role donation would one day play in saving his own life.
Did You Know?
About 13 people die every day in the U.S. while waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.
Apu shared his journey on The Hope Cast by Infinite Legacy, a podcast dedicated to sharing the lives that are forever changed by organ, eye and tissue donation. Listen to Apu’s podcast to learn more about his journey and life post-transplant.
Register as a Donor to Save Lives Like Apu’s
Apu recently celebrated seven years with his “new” heart, liver and kidney. Thanks to his organ donor hero, he recently got to see his youngest son graduate from high school and looks forward to seeing his two sons grow into young men and start their careers.
“When you’re sitting in the hospital, all you’re asking for is five more years of life. My kids are superstars and to be there and celebrate that with them makes me a proud dad.” – Apu